Medical students require a portable laptop with an excellent display and long battery life, along with the processing power needed to run software programs efficiently – an Intel Core i5 processor from 7th or 8th Generation is suitable.
It features a fast SSD for quick app launches and multitasking, along with a backlit English keyboard for secure entry to the device and fingerprint scanning for secure authentication.
Acer Aspire 5
If you need an affordable laptop for remote learning but are unwilling to spend over $500, this Acer model could be ideal. It features a slim yet lightweight chassis with excellent productivity performance as well as backlit keyboard and fingerprint scanning compatible with Windows Hello.
One drawback of Windows 10 Home S is that it restricts you to only installing programs from Microsoft Store and prohibits use of software from other sources; you may upgrade to regular Windows 10, however that requires extra costs.
Other than its size, the Aspire 5 is an excellent option for students. It’s easily upgradable with more RAM or SSD storage later, has good speakers with downward firing ports, a basic 720p webcam for Zoom meetings, an HDMI port and an Ethernet connection; plus plenty of ports – three 3.0 speed USB-A ports (one provides phone charging power), full HDMI support, as well as one full size HDMI port and an Ethernet.
Lenovo Flex 14
Lenovo’s Flex 14 stands out as one of the best budget 2-in-1 convertibles due to its lightweight construction, excellent battery life and decent screen compared to similar budget options. Unfortunately though, due to average keyboard and CPU performance it falls short of being one of our top recommendations.
This keyboard offers a familiar layout and plastic feel, yet requires considerable force to actuate – making typing difficult over long periods. Furthermore, its shallow travel distance and below-average feedback levels limit its appeal.
On the right side of this laptop are a USB 2.0 port, 2-in-1 card reader, headset jack and buttons for power, Lenovo OneKey Recovery and volume control. Furthermore, its bottom plate can be removed to gain access to its motherboard, 7 mm HDD and half-mini PCIe WLAN card.
Intel Core i5 ULV processor in our model handled light productivity tasks but wasn’t suitable for more intensive programs. Display resolution was also disappointing as higher-resolution displays would have looked far superior.
Dell XPS 13
This 2019 Dell XPS 13 is an upgrade on its predecessor with an eighth-generation Intel processor and impressive specifications, including a slim frame measuring only 3.4mm thick and an Infinity Edge display with 4mm bezels to achieve an 80.7 percent screen-to-body ratio.
Display: 500 Nits (16:10 aspect ratio). This makes the screen feel larger than most 13.4-inch laptops when working with documents and spreadsheets. This feature makes for great convenience when working on documents and spreadsheets.
The machined aluminum chassis looks and feels solid in your hand. The XPS 13 is available in Umber and Sky finishes; our review unit was Sky, an eye-catching metallic blue hue. WaterField Designs even designed an exclusive leather and waxed canvas sleeve specifically for this device!
Apple MacBook Air
Apple’s latest MacBook Air is unquestionably the top in its class, boasting a thinner and lighter design with a stunning screen. Additionally, its webcam has been vastly improved as has MagSafe charging, superior keyboard and trackpad controls and just two Thunderbolt 4 USB-C connections – meaning some accessories will require adapters.
For greater power and performance, the MacBook Pro series may be the better option. Its advanced performance and extra features make it the ultimate laptop for medical students; however, its added weight makes it less appealing.
The new MacBook Air boasts an M2 processor that’s impressively fast at everyday tasks, earning second place on our Geekbench 5 single-core test behind only its more powerful 14-inch MacBook Pro and Core i7 Windows competitors. Furthermore, its long battery life ensures all-day use for most users; its Retina display looks sharp and vibrant while its six speaker system sounds better than expected from such a thin laptop.